Elastic hub and axle for bicycles, &amp; c.



N0. 7H,077. Patented Oct. I4, |902.

F. SCHMITZ.

ELASTICl HUB -AND AXLE FR BIYCLES, 8m.

(Application med June 24, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

l 2705 A' C Mvc/'jb MCA 1c No. 7H,077. Patented Uct. I4, |902. F.- SCHMITZ. ELASTIC HUB AND AXLE FUR VBIYCLES, &.c.

(Appliqaition and .rune 24, i901.)

2 Shoah-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

FRANK SCHMlTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS.

ELASTIC HUB 'AND AXLE FOR BICYCLES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION :forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,077, dated October 14, 1902. Application filed .Tune 24, 190].. Serial No. 65,733. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom/ t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK SCHMITZ, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elastic Hubs and Axles for Bicycles and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in elastic hubs and axles for bicycles and the like in which a spring is interposed between the hub and axle to give the axle a certain limited amount of elastic movement, thereby preventing unpleasant vibration and jarring to the frame.

This invention has reference more especially to the guiding of the various parts and adj ustability thereof and to certain other novel features of construction, a description of which will be found in the following specification and the essential features more definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings furnished herewith, Figure 1 is a front View of my improved device applied to the fork of a bicycle with the hubcasing and bearing-cups in central vertical section, the line of section being indicated at l l in Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the device with the axle in side elevation, the section being taken in the same line. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in the broken line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts seen in Fig. l with the fork broken away. Fig. 5 is a similar View with all the removable parts taken off from the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig-6 is a vertical cross-section in the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7is a side View of the axle-case. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a clip for holding the axle in proper relation'to the fork.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a washer used.

in the device, and Fig. l0 is a cross-section in the line l0 10 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, A -A represent the two members of an ordinary bicycle-fork,

in the ends of which is secured the axle B. Said axle consists, preferably, of a central yoke-shaped portion l), from the legs b4 of whichextendlongitudinalspindlesh'b,screw threaded upon their ends to receive the nuts h2. Said spindles are formed with transversely-extendinglugs h3, flattened upon their sides, adapted to receive elongated Washers C, and resting against these lugs are clips D D, Fig. 8, perforated at d to slip upon the spindles and having inwardly projecting tangs d d' embracing the sides of the lugs h3 to prevent their turning upon the spindles. Upon their edges areoutwardly-extending tangs cl2 d2, adapted to embrace the edges of the forked members, so as to properly position the axle with respect thereto, and it is evident that when the nuts b2 are screwed up tight the axle will be rigidly secured in place upon the forks without danger of turning or otherwise getting out of the proper relation therewith. The hub-casing is seen at E and is provided with the ordinary cups or ballraces e e to receive antifriction-balls e2, which roll upon the bearing-cones E', which are connected to the axle B, as will be hereinafter described. The cups are threaded in the casing, and the cup e is adjustable toward the balls to take up the wear, a lock-nut e3 being provided to lock the same in place.

Looking at Figs. l and 5, a washer F will be seen interposed between the lock-nut and the hub-casing, said washer having a tonguef seated in a groove e4 in the bearing-cup c to prevent rotation of the washer with respect to the cup. Said washerF is toothed or serrated upon its periphery, and its rotation with respect to the hub-casing is prevented by a rib e5, Fig. 10, which is adapted to lie in any of said spaces between two adjacent teeth. This rib is formed in the ring E2, to which the spokes are secured before said ring is secured upon the hub-easing. The bearing-cup c may evidently be adjusted to place, the washer F slipped thereupon with the tongue in the groove e4 and the rib e5 between two adjacent teeth, after which the parts may be securely locked together by the lock-nut e3.

The cones E', above referred to, are screwed upon the screw-threaded ends g of an laxlecase G, Figs. 3, 7, and 10, which is preferably made up of two sides g' g2, united by a bottom g3, extending only a portion of its length and having a downwardly-extending socket g4 to receive a compression-spring S, the other end of which presses against the yoke-shaped portion b of the axle, Fig. 2, to yieldingly support the same. Said axle is guided in the axle-case by means of guide-plates H, having IOO end portions 71, upon which the legs b4 of the axle bear,and side portions l/,extending along the sides of the axle-case and secured to the sides thereof by two clips h2 h3, seated in slots in the sides of the guide-plates and screwed to the sides of the axle-box. The sides of the legs b4 are vertically guided between the sides of the axle-case, as clearly seen-in Fig. 3, to prevent lateral movement or oscillation of the axle-case upon the axle. The ends h of said guide-plates are vertically slotted to permit the axle to play therein and the screw-threaded ends of the axle-case to project therethrough. The bearing-cones E beingscrewed upon the ends of the axle-case extending without the guide-plates H may be screwed up against the end portions 7L thereof and locked in place by fingers 7L", Fig. l, upon the clip h3, the bearing-cones being provided with serrations for engagement with the ngers h4. To prevent clicking or chattering of the parts, an elastic or spring ringI has been provided, Fig. 6, which is seated within the ends g of the axle-case and adapted to receive the impact of the spindles b' of the axle. As seen inA Fig. 6, each of these rings is formed of spring-steel bentinto the shape of a ring, with its outer ends overlapping, so that one may slide upon the other. By this arrangement these spring-rings are held snugly in the ends of the axle-box, so that they will not rattle therein. When the spindles of the axle strike the rings, the shock is taken up thereby, and the ends of the rings slide a little upon each other as they are distended. Washers J are placed against the cones E', said washers being provided with elongated slots j', Fig. 9, in which the spindles of the axle may play, and with vertically-extending ribs j along the vertical edges of said slots confined between the spindles b and the inner edges of the ends g of the axle-case to prevent said ends from accidentally being sprung inward and to assist in guidingthe ends of said spindles. The elongated Washers vC being fast upon said spindles move therewith and cover up the slots j' in the washers to prevent dust, the., from entering the hub. Elastic washers K are placed between the washers C and the clips D to separate and hold them in place.

As the surfaces between the faces of the legs b4 and the ends h of the guide-plates H wear, the bearing-cones E may be tightened to take up said wear and the cup e correspondingly tightened, thereby keeping all of` the wearing parts nicely adjusted.

From the above it will be seen that the device is simple, practical, and serviceable, all of the parts being easily and readily replaced when they become injured or worn out.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a vertically-guided and yieldingly-supported axle having noncircular portions near its ends, of a clip engaging one of said non-circular portions and having lateral projections adapted for engagement with a suitable supporting member to prevent relative rotation of the axle with respect thereto; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a vertically-guided and yieldingly-supported axle having the lugs, Z13, near its ends, of a perforated clip, D, having the tangs, d', engaging the lugs and the tangs, cl2, for engaging a suitable supporting member to prevent relative rotations of the axle with respect thereto; substantially as described.

3. The combination withavertically-guided axle, of an axle-case having end portions upon which the bearing-cones are secured, a spring confined between the axle and axlecase and elastic rings, I, confined in said screw-threaded end portions, each of said rings havingits ends overlappingone another; substantially as described.

4. The combination with an axle, of an axle-case, a spring contined between said axle and axle-case, guide-plates adapted to guide said axle vertically and having slotted side portions, h', and clips, h2, secured to the axlecase and seated in said slots to guide said guide-plates longitudinally upon the axlecase; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a vertically-movable axle, of an axle-case, a spring confined between said axle and axle-case, adjustable bearing-cones upon the ends of said axle-case, guide-plateslongitudinally movable upon the axle-case, a clip forguiding said guide-plates longitudinally and formed with fingers engaging the cones to prevent accidental rotation thereof; substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 6th day of June, A. D.

FRANK SCHMITZ. Witnesses: CHAs. O. SHERVEY, S. BLIss.

TOO

IOS 

